Monument to Soviet Soldier in Berlin dismantled for further restoration

The dismantling of the monument to the Soviet Soldier in the Treptow Park's memorial for further restoration has started in Berlin.

This memorial is a grandiose monument to Soviet warriors killed in 1945 during the capture of the capital of Nazi Germany. "We honour their memory and still consider it to be a Soviet memorial because Berlin was liberated by the USSR. We are doing our best to take proper care of Berlin's three major Soviet war memorials in Treptow Park, Tiergarten and Schoenholzer Heide," said Hans Stiemann, the director in charge of construction in Berlin's Senate (government).

The dismantling of the monument is to be accomplished within a day. Then the dismantled monument will be taken to the Island of Ruegen (northern Germany) for restoration.

In spring 2004, before the Victory Day, the world famous figure of the Soviet Soldier will come back to the Treptow Park where some 5,000 Soviet warriors are buried.